Andrew:

Try to imagine Dummy

A defender must not merely remember partner’s bids and the final contract. They must recall the exact route the opponents took to get there. Take this auction (your side silent): 1 ♦-1 ♥-1 ♠-3 ♦-3 ♥-4 ♥. Dummy’s has advertised their shape: 4 ♠-3 ♥-5(6)♦-1(0)♣.

So, as West, on lead with:

♠ J108
♥ 863
♦ 753
♣ KJ84

do not lead the unbid suit, clubs, and void the dummy. A trump lead is possible, to cut down dummy’s trumping power. The trouble is that the opponents have revealed a side-fit in diamonds, and will probably be able to run that suit after trumps have been drawn. Instead, attack the suit in which declarer will make discards on dummy’s diamonds: I’m talking about spades.

North Deals
None Vul

♠	K Q 7 4
♥	K 10 4
♦	A Q 9 7 4
♣	5

♠	J 10 8
♥	8 7 3
♦	6 5 3
♣	K J 8 4

N
W		E
S

♠	A 6 5
♥	9 2
♦	K 2
♣	A 9 7 6 3 2

♠	9 3 2
♥	A Q J 6 5
♦	J 10 8
♣	Q 10

West	North	East	South
	1 ♦	Pass1	1 ♥
Pass	1 ♠2	Pass	3 ♦3
Pass	3 ♥4	Pass	4 ♥
All pass

More discipline than I’d have had. I know
East is vulnerable and he has to bid his suit
at the Two-level, but I’d have overcalled
Two Clubs.
Showing his five-four shape.
Invite, with delayed diamond support.
Showing his delayed heart support, and
thus a 4 ♠ 3 ♥ 5 ♦ 1 ♣ (or perhaps a
4♠ 3♥ 6♦0♣) shape.

What happened
Looking no further than the unbid suit, West led ♣ 4. No good. East won ♣ A and switched to ♥ 2 (what else?). Declarer won ♥ J and ran ♦ J to East’s ♦ K. Winning ♥ 9 return with ♥ K, declarer crossed to ♥ Q (drawing West’s last trump), played out dummy’s winning diamonds discarding ♣ Q and ♠ 2 from hand, and flushed out ♠ A. 10 tricks and game made.

What should have happened
It is a different story on ♠ J lead. Declarer covers with ♠ Q, and East wins ♠ A. ♠ 6 comes next, to ♠ 3, ♠ 8 and ♠ K. Declarer crosses to ♥ J and runs ♦ J, but East can win ♦ K, cash ♣ A, and lead over to West’s S10. Down one.

If you remember one thing...
Before leading, listen carefully to the bidding, and try to work out dummy’s shape.

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Andrew:

Try to imagine Dummy